Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, held a press conference on Sunday to mark his 600th day in office. The governor fielded questions on issues affecting his state and the country. Below is a summary of the session:

Membership on the Presidential Economic Team

Fielding questions on his membership of the Presidential Economic Team, meant to advise government on the world economic recession, Governor Fashola said the team, made up of experts from different fields, was principally meant to draw from the wealth of ideas that abound in the country in order to chat a positive way forward.

“I think you have to understand that in whatever capacity you find yourself at anytime, you are limited by what you know. Therefore, you have to continue to learn from the human resources around you”, the Governor said, adding that he has benefited tremendously from other peoples’ ideas willingly given to him from all strata of society.

He commended the President for raising the team, which he described as a welcome decision, saying, “If a leader should come and say to you, listen, I need help, we must commend the decision-making process that resulted to it because this is not a country that is bereft of human resource capacity”.

According to the Governor, the issue is centered on “what one man will do and how it will affect us and we say, what are the issues involved, because we are the biggest market in the continent unless we want to cede our position to Ghana. We must see it as a proactive step”.

On the criteria for the composition of the team, Governor Fashola, who admitted that he is not privy to the criteria, however, declared, “There are four Governors in the team. We have an economist whose decisions have been respected in this country. There is an industrialist whose industrial activities have affected the lives of several millions of Nigerians. The Governor of the Central Bank is a member, so also the National Planning Minister. It is a broad-based team”.

On relationship with the President

Also fielding another question on his relationship with Mr. President, Governor Fashola said democracy allowed that there should be interactions, and sharing in public management, adding, however, that in doing all that, the interest of the people must not be compromised.

“The important thing is how we play politics. You can play politics in Lagos and Nigeria, but don’t play politics with Lagos or Nigeria”, the Governor said adding, ‘I think we should move forward. We should be able to debate and disagree on issues, but such disagreement should be food for thought that should be able to give rise to new ideas. It should not degenerate to the extent of saying I will make your state ungovernable”, Governor Fashola explained.

Citing the example of the seized Lagos State Local Government funds by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Fashola declared, “It is the people who ultimately suffered. If we disagree, the interest of the people must not be compromised”.

Thoughts on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

On whether he could consider joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Fashola said such a proposition was incompatible with his vision as, according to him, the PDP lacked any defining ideals and is only interested in power, adding, “Power without purpose is useless power”

He, however, said if such an idea should ever be considered by him in future, he would first resign as Governor of Lagos State and handover his mandate to the Action Congress before making such a move.

Taxation

On the allegation of excessive taxation, particularly the State’s infrastructure levy, Governor Fashola explained that the infrastructure levy was meant to sustain infrastructure in the state, pointing out that the influx of people from the rural areas into the city has put undue pressure on existing infrastructure and unless they are maintained and expanded, there would eventually be a collapse.

According to the Governor, infrastructure improves the value of property in that if new roads are built to open up hitherto inaccessible area, the value of property in that area will appreciate, adding that the proceeds from the levy was being used to improve infrastructure for the people.

On light rail project

The Governor added that the idea of light rail line project is contemporary technology aimed at using cheaper means to achieve the same purpose of providing a means of transporting mass people in a fast manner which metroline would have provided.

He said the state has already identified seven rail routes out of which it intends to commence work on two designated as blue and red lanes.

He explained that the blue lane will run from Okokomaiko to Eric Moore to terminate at Marina while second one known as red lane would run from Iddo to Mushin through Agege to Ijoko- Otta in Ogun State under the mega city project programme between the Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Governments.

Governor Fashola also informed that the state is collaborating with some Nigerians who have worked in foreign railways to work with LAMATA, in addition to a broad spectrum of experts towards fashioning out ways of replicating what is similar to what is obtainable in foreign locations in light rail technology.

He said the ultimate aim of the state is to build the infrastructure first, then get concessionaires to bring the coaches and run the first two lanes of the light rail system, adding that this can serve as an impetus that will make the other five routes very attractive for other concessionaires to invest in.

Oshodi

Governor Fashola told the audience that the issue of Oshodi has remained like a sore for the country and Lagos state which needs to be addressed properly because of its location as one of the first points of contact for visitors to Lagos.

He revealed that almost N120 billion is being lost to the multifaceted problem that the congestion at Oshodi brings about when considered in its totality, saying the problem has led to mass exodus of people living in Oshodi to some other areas.

He lamented that what should be considered first in the issue of Oshodi is whether the interest of just a little over 1500 people whose stalls were demolished be considered above that of 16million inhabitants of Lagos who have been affected by the inability of traffic to move in Oshodi.

The Governor informed that removal of structures is a very painful decision which the state is always very reluctant to engage stressing that in instances where it has had options of finding ways round removal exercises, it has not removed any structure.

Governor Fashola also said the state has however decided to tackle the problem with the provision of markets in 15 different areas of the state and ensuring the provision of mortgage facilities to the traders who would benefit from the new markets.

He added that the state is working towards ensuring that market men and women are provided with stalls which would also be provided to them through mortgage, saying never again should the people have cause to pay for stalls or markets in one fell swoop.

On insinuations of conflicts with the State House of Assembly and its leadership, Governor Fashola said the story of mankind is that of conflict, saying any society where there is consistent unanimity of opinions, such society cannot progress effectively.

Said he; “The story of humanity itself is a story of conflict. When we agree always, there would be a problem. We can always find a consensus. It is only from disagreement that we can get a solution on how to agree on a way forward”.

He said plans are on going to provide more corridors to continue the success story of the BRT bus system which will however depend on provision of necessary facilities like lane marking which is also dependent on weather conditions.

On Safe City Project

He said the Safe City Project is a noble idea which aims to ensure safety of life and property in the State. While restating the need to deploy the latest technology being used in other jurisdictions to ensure security, Governor Fashola said the security camera project won’t be totally funded by the Government but through a collaboration between the state and financial institutions so that the banks and financial institutions can subscribe into the database of the security command centre and get adequate information on security attention when needed.

Immunity Clause in the Nigerian constitution

Governor Fashola maintained that provision of immunity for some category of public officers is not solely responsible for corrupt acts among some bad eggs in the public sector but that the sorry state of the Nigerian economy has made some people desperate.

He added that since the Supreme Court has ruled that a public office holder can be investigated in office, nothing stops such a person from being brought to book upon expiration of tenure of office, wondering why several years after leaving office many politicians have not been charged for corruption which they have been accused of engaging in.

Revenue Allocation, health, education and jobs

He said Lagos State is one of the poorest in terms of resource allocation to it as against the commitment it undertakes, adding that determining what wage bill it would offer to its work force would be through the negotiation table.

Governor Fashola told Nigerians to realize that by virtue of size, whatever the country does or fails to do will impact on the success or other wise of the programme of the New President Barack Obama for the country in terms of healthcare, education, jobs and so on.

He therefore charged Nigerians to know that there is a need to start directing attention to issues of health, education and issues of stimulating economic growth and those things that challenge America and that only through this that a mutually beneficial partnership can be created.

In his words; “We must begin to take decisions that will signify our seriousness to direct our attention to issues of health, education, issues of stimulating economic growth and those things that challenge America and it is only in that way that we can create an opportunity for a mutually beneficial partnership”.

Governor Fashola added that his administration is opening up the economy of the state through the micro credit scheme which has provided over 9000 jobs since its commencement, adding that opportunities abound everywhere in the state.

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